by Jackie Jones - Field To Plate

FIT BITS f
Fitnessfor Everyone
Call the kids and push the
coffee table aside! A new
video by Boston fitness pro
Brandy Cruthird will get
everybody in the house fit.
Cruthird and the South
End Community Health
Center produced ªThe
House Is Getting Fitº
($19.99), part of a pedi-
atric weight manage-
ment program that
encourages parents to lead by example.
Cruthird, owner of Body by Brandy Fitness Cen-
ter and a physical education teacher, creates a
laid-back, funky vibe and easy-to-follow chore-
ography. The kids in the video are bursting
with energy and attitude, while Mom and Dad
show them how to do ªthe Snakeº and ªthe
Thrillerº with more old-school style. To order,
visit bodybybrandy.com or call 888-599-2639.
Where Can You FindHeart
Benefits?
We'll say it again : You don't need to bust
a Billy Blanks sweat to make serious
strides toward improving your heart health.
A recent study published in the journal
CHEST supports previous findings that shorter,
low-intensity workouts are just as effective in
improving aerobic fitness and reducing the risk
of heart disease. When 133 overweight and
sedentary men and women were divided into
groups of walkers and joggers, the study found
that those who worked harder didn't get any
fitter than those who walked.
That's not to say that moderate intensity
exercise is all you need. Increasing the time
you exercise and how long you work can yield
additional benefits, like weight loss and
improved cardiovascular fitness.
34 HEARTANDSOUL.COM · FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006
But for people who are
in good health, it's usually
okay to ease into both
cardio and strength training.
There's no need to
push yourself too hard too
quickly; you run the risk
of getting discouraged
and derailing your program
with extreme soreness
and injury.
Your goal will be to do
4 to 6 days of moderate
cardiovascular exercise
and 2 to 3 days of
strength training per
week, but it's fine to start
off with such workouts as
a kickboxing class or a fitness
video that includes 10 or 15
Ask Nichele minutes of toning moves. After
about six weeks, add two 20-
Fitness Editor Nichele minute toning workouts, like the
Hoskins answers your ones featured in this month's
fitness questions
Body Shaping (page 32). Just be
sure to allow a day of rest between
strength workouts.
and have been inactive for about a Cardio and strength training
year. Can I start doing cardiovascu- work together to help you burn
lar exercise and weight lifting, or more calories than either one
should I introduce strength training would alone. The most impor-
later on?
tant thing is that your fitness
A
I'm glad you're motivated program is designed to keep you
and thinking about howmotivated.
For more detailed ad-
to design your new fitvice, consult with a trusted
ness program. The more caretrainer
or fitness instructor at
fully you plan, the more likely your gym who is certified by a
you are to meet your goals. Some national fitness organization like
very sedentary, very obese people ACSM, AFAA or ACE. And
and those with medical andpump
your fitness knowledge by
physical limitations are often adreading
Strong Women Stay Slim
vised by their physicians to begin by Miriam Nelson. It has solid
with walking only to get their fitness information for real
body accustomed to moving women that can help you set and
gradually.
meet your fitness goals.
QI am about 40 pounds overweight
Got a fitness question? Send it to ªAsk Nicheleº at
fitnesseditor@heartandsoul.com.